Iron toxicity: relevance for dialysis patients

Iron deficiency is common among patients with advanced kidney disease, particularly those requiring hemodialysis. Intravenous iron is a convenient treatment to supplement iron and is widely used among hemodialysis patients. Its efficacy is well established that, with treatment, hemoglobin levels rise and erythropoiesis-stimulating agent dose requirements are reduced. However, the safety of intravenous iron with respect to patient-centered outcomes has not been adequately studied. A variety of studies have indicated potential safety concerns, but most have been of small numbers of patients and with end points studied that have unclear clinical relevance. In this study, issues related to iron toxicity are reviewed.